XJdePlato said:
I think I speak for everyone when I say we are all anti-lowering of XJs. Sorry but we're all offroaders and aren't too into the urban thing. But the front would be easy, just chop the coils. But the rear, since it's spring over is goin to be tricky to lower. My advice is buy an escalade
A non-member with 34 posts and you are speaking for
all of us now? :viking: Sir, be very glad I am in a decent mood today...
Now then, to the topic at hand.
The front presents a couple options. I have heard that oem Jeep Wrangler TJ coils will drop an XJ a small amount. Or you could experiment with trimming a set of oem XJ coils. The more you trim, the stiffer they will get. You could even trim down the factory coil isolators a few mm?
Out back, one could do a spring-under axle... I'd have to look a bit tomorrow and see if a factory XJ axle could be set up as spring-under, and not have to move the shock mounts and/or remove the leaf perches from the top of the axle tube. Those perches could be a good basis for the bumpstop contact points. You would get a bunch of drop this way, but you can adjust the ride height back up with shackles, an AAL or junkyard leaf, etc. Again, extra leaves will increase the spring rate...
At the time you get it at the ride height & quality you are after, measure for good quality shock absorbers. I'd do shock BPEs just to tighten it up.
As for the tires? My XJ is pretty low. (as is the front is aprx 3/4" over stock, and the back is aprx 1" under) I use 30" x 9.50" on 7" wide, 3.75" backspaced wheels... and they fit inside my flares/wells nicely. All I have done is add somewhat lower (MJ) bumpstops and a few washers to each side of the steering stops. Your proposed wheel/tire combo will be a tad wider and probably about the same height as mine... if you kept to a similar width & backspacing.
Many of the mods (and objectives of) the off-road scene does, applies in opposite for the street scene... Instead of loosening the rig up, you will benefit from tightening it. (slightly stiffer springs, poly bushings etc... Parts that share duty include a beefier track bar/mount, tube steel control arms, steering box brace, good shocks/BPEs, 28mm swaybar etc...)
Just do it first class... and have fun with it.